Encinitas fire chief to serve city council term

ENCINITAS  Encinitas Fire Chief Mark Muir will serve the remainder of Maggie Houlihan’s term on the Encinitas City Council.

The City Council on Wednesday voted 3-1, with Teresa Barth opposed, to appoint Muir to replace Houlihan, who died of cancer Sept. 16. The term expires December 2012.

The decision disappointed some Houlihan supporters who attended the meeting. Many lobbied for Tony Kranz or Lisa Shaffer, whom Houlihan had publicly supported. Houlihan also had campaigned against current council members Jerome Stocks, James Bond and Kristin Gaspar. Muir, selected out of 13 applicants, is a known supporter of Stocks and Bond.

“If you select Mr. Muir to fill her shoes you will be collectively dismissing the people who voted for her,” said Ian Thompson, Houlihan’s widower.

Stocks said Muir was the best choice to fill the seat temporarily. Muir has been a city employee for more than 20 years, has contributed to a balanced budget as a public safety executive, and is familiar with operations, Stocks said. He said it was not a political decision.

“I want to appoint the highest qualified individual,” he said.

Muir will resign as fire chief, and from the Olivenhain Municipal Water District and several other positions before being sworn in Nov. 9. Muir, who said he has voted for Houlihan for City Council, said after the meeting Wednesday that he looks forward to serving but that he will miss being fire chief.

“It’s bittersweet, being in a position where you’re replacing ... a good council person, who made very good, independent decisions,” he said of Houlihan.

The council chose to appoint a replacement rather than hold a special election, which could not take place until February and would have cost $320,000.